Penn State’s top recruiting target in the 2026 class just made a major change in his recruiting process, and it could be a good sign for the Nittany Lions. Five-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho is scheduled for an official visit to Happy Valley on June 13, and while that trip is staying on his summer itinerary, Maryland and Alabama fell off his list of upcoming official visits in favor of LSU and Auburn.
The 6-foot-7, 345-pound Baltimore product is the No. 4-ranked recruit in the 2026 class according to 247Sports Composite rankings and the No. 2 offensive lineman. He’s long been a top target of Penn State head coach James Franklin and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, and now, with his visit to College Park off the books, it appears that there is only one other Big Ten program still in the mix.
Immanuel Iheanacho drops Maryland official visit as SEC powers surge
Oregon is still leading the way in Iheanacho’s recruitment, and while it wouldn’t be good for the Nittany Lions if he became a Duck, it would sting a lot less than losing a recruit of his caliber to the Terrapins. If he doesn’t make his way to Penn State, then getting him out of the Big Ten altogether would be ideal, and that seems more and more likely with LSU and Auburn surging.
The state of Maryland has been a recruiting hotbed for James Franklin, but in the past two recruiting cycles, Mike Locksley and the Terps have finally been punching back. Baltimore five-star edge rusher Zion Elee chose Maryland over Penn State in 2026, and in 2025, talented four-star quarterback Malik Washington stayed at home with the Terps instead of making the trip up north.
For a while, it appeared as though Locksley could lock down both Elee and Iheanacho. While that’s not completely off the table, the elite offensive tackle removing Maryland from his list of official visits is telling.
Penn State’s top-rated recruit in the 2026 class is four-star offensive tackle Kevin Brown, and two 2023 five-stars, J’Ven Williams and Alex Birchmeier, have yet to land starting roles on the offensive line in Happy Valley. So, Franklin and Trautwein have done an excellent job stockpiling talent in the trenches, but Iheanacho is a different caliber of recruit. He could be a starter from Day 1.
With big money programs like Oregon, Auburn, and LSU in the mix, Penn State better impress when Iheanacho comes to Happy Valley on June 13, or else Franklin will have to keep his fingers crossed that the five-star leaves for the SEC.